A Foolproof Traditional Pimm's Cup Recipe

Pimm's No 1 Cup is so quick and easy to prepare and is considered the drink of summer in Britain. Originally, Pimm's No 1 was made using gin, quinine, and a secret mixture of herbs as an aid to digestion, and is now so popular it is often thought of as the number two English drink; tea, of course being the first.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

Take a jug (if you want to make several glasses) or a glass and add as much ice as you like.

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Pour one part Pimm's No. 1 with three of fizzy lemonade over the ice.

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Add mint leaves, thin cucumber slices, orange slices, and strawberry (all or some depending on what you prefer) and serve.

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Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variation

If you can't find carbonated lemonade, you can substitute it for 7UP.

Other Pimm's Cups

The original Pimm's No 1 was made using gin, quinine, and a secret mixture of herbs as an aid to digestion. After the Second World War, the range was extended using other spirit bases - Scotch for No. 2 Cup, No. 3 brandy, No. 4 rum, No. 5 rye and No. 6 vodka. Only the vodka cup and brandy (now called Winter) remain in production with the original No. Number 1 cup still the most popular.

The History of Pimm's

Pimm's originated in an Oyster Bar in Poultry Street, in the City of London, owned by James Pimm in 1840. Here, he created the Pimm's 'House Cup' flavored with liqueurs, and fruit extracts.He rapidly built up a chain of restaurants in a variety of locations, including The Old Bailey and other places "to be seen" for City businessmen of the day. James Pimm is said to have blended his famous 'No 1 Cup', on the premises and it was then sold in pints in pewter tankards.

By 1859, Pimm's was on sale outside of the restaurants and in 1865, the company was sold to Frederick Sawyer and the first bottle of Pimm's was sold for 3 shillings.

The company was sold again in 1875, this time to Sir Horatio Davies, who in the following years expanded the sale of the drink. It could be found not only in the UK but also throughout the British Empire and the association of the drink with all things British began.

The No 1 cup is as popular today as ever. The first Pimm's bar opened at the world-famous Wimbledon tennis tournament in 1971, and every year over 80,000 pints of Pimm's with lemonade are sold to spectators.

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